System and device enabling pc-specific online games on mobile phones

ABSTRACT

A system and device enabling PC-specific online games on mobile phone, which applies a format selection system to convert the PC-specific game software and relevant data into the format compatible with the mobile phone; then, the mobile phone can be linked to the game servo center using existing wireless telecom system, and permit the users to select PC or mobile phone to enjoy the same online game with the format selection function.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED U.S. APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

NAMES OF PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not applicable.

REFERENCE TO AN APPENDIX SUBMITTED ON COMPACT DISC

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a system that implementsPC-specific online games on mobile phones, and more particularly to aninnovative one which enables mobile phones, 3G phones and PDA phones toshare the same online game through Internet and PC/Notebook.

2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37CFR 1.97 and 37 CFR 1.98.

Most conventional online games involve the online game software thatpermits multiple users to enjoy themselves in a virtual world (story,scenario and characters). Such online games comprise: web games, networkgames and online games. Here, it relates particularly to an online game,which can be implemented once the users link the PC with the server ofan online game provider, and then downloads information after loginand/or ID identification. The on-line mode covers transfer and messageexchange of game software. The game software is configured as per thespecification of PC or Notebook, especially in terms of the screen size,resolution and transmission frequency bandwidth, no matter the usergains an access to the game screen and handles message exchange bylinking Telnet with remote servers, or by installing game software on PCand then handling message exchange by remote server. However, suchonline games specific to PCs cannot be implemented on mobile phones dueto different specifications of the processor and screen.

Thus, when the users play online games, they encounter the space-timerestrictions of PC/Notebook. For example, when the users stay at otherplaces without PC (long-distance transport vehicle or waiting forsomething), they cannot continue to play said online games for killingthe time and accumulating the game achievement (power), making itimpossible to maximize the amusement function and networking efficiency.

Therefore, the present invention provides an online game system withoutthe restriction of PC, which enables the users to play via its mobilephone the same online game without the help of PC, so as to share thecontents and historic data of the same online game, and improve theamusement value and availability of the online game.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a system that implements PC-specificonline games on mobile phones, which comprises a game servo center, atelecom network and a user terminal provided by the game serviceprovider.

The game servo center comprises at least: a user server, a game server,a communication server and a database, which are used to support andstore the data required for game. Moreover, the game servo centercomprises a main game software supporting PC format and a secondary gamesoftware supporting mobile phone format. Both the game software areavailable with the same game contents for the same personal identity. Ifrequested by the users, the corresponding game software is retrievedfrom the database to generate the game contents, and then sent to thecorresponding user terminal based on historic data and parameters. Thegame servo center also receives the game data sent from the userterminal so as to update the historic data in the database.

The telecom network comprises a wired and wireless telecom network,which is applied to message transfer between the game servo center andthe user terminal.

The user terminal comprises PC and mobile phones of the same personregistered with the game servo center, both of which can link with thegame servo center through the telecom network, and receive the controlprogram, game contents and all relevant data supported by the game servocenter, so as to implement the online game.

Accordingly, the user can select randomly a user terminal to be linkedwith the game servo center through a telecom network, and according tothe user ID and request, gain an access to the game server to retrievethe corresponding game software and generate the practicable gamecontents, finally send the data to the user terminal based on historicdata and parameters.

As mentioned above, the users can enjoy online game via both PC andmobile phone to improve the game amusement and networking availability.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a framework chart of the online gamesystem of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of a block chart of the first preferredembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of a block chart of the second preferredembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows schematic view of a block chart of the third preferredembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of the mobile phone of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a basic framework and the block chart of thefirst preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown, whereinthe system comprises a game servo center 11, telecom network 12 and userterminal 13 provided by the game service provider.

The game servo center 11 comprises at least: a user server 111, gameserver 112, communication server 113 and database 114, which are used tosupport and store the data required for game; the data comprises theuser's personal identity, communication data, game software, controlprogram and historic data.

The game servo center 11 comprises a main game software 115 supportingPC format and a secondary game software 116 supporting mobile phoneformat. Both the game software are available with the same game stories,scenarios and characters, for the same personal identity. The gameserver 112 may, depending on the user's requested personal identity andformat selection function, retrieve main game software 115 or secondarygame software 116 from the database 114 to generate the game contents,and then combined with the corresponding historic data (e.g.: quantityof coins, equipments and number of levels) and parameters, andtransmitting these data to the user terminal 13 via the communicationserver 113. The game servo center 11 also receives game data sent fromany user terminal 13, and then updates the historic data of the sameperson stored in the database 114.

The telecom network 12 comprises a wired and wireless telecom network(e.g.: all or a part of Internet and GSM/GPRS/3G/4G/Wimax/W-CDMA), whichis applied to message transfer between the game servo center 11 and theuser terminal 13; and at least a wireless network is used for linking ofthe mobile phone 132 in the user terminal 13.

The user terminal 13 comprises PC 131 and mobile phone 132 of the sameperson registered with the game servo center 11, both of which can linkwith the game servo center 11 through the telecom network 12, andconvert the acquired game contents and data into the pictures on thescreen, while receiving the control program supported by the game servocenter 11 to implement the online game using its keyboard or gamecontroller.

Referring also to FIG. 2, the game servo center 11 comprises a userserver 111, game server 112, communication server 113 and database 114,of which, the user server 111 is used to establish and validate theuser's personal identity, then search and send all data required for thedesignated game.

The game server 112 is used to retrieve and generate the game contentsas well as data and parameters corresponding to the user's personalidentity.

The communication server 113 is used to provide the communication data(e.g.: website, verification code) between the game servo center 11 anduser terminal 13, and select appropriate communication system andprotocol for sending and receiving data.

The database 114 is used to store various data required by said servers.

When said online game system is employed, the communication system onthe user's terminal 13 is linked to the game servo center 11 through thetelecom network 12, then the user can enter its personal identity andverify its ID by the user server 111. Next, the users can gain an accessto the game server 112, and selectively retrieve either main gamesoftware 115 or secondary game software 116 to generate the requiredgame contents. Based on the historic data and parameters, all data aresent to either PC 131 or mobile phone 132 of the users through thecommunication server 113 for enjoying the same game.

As mentioned above, the users can enjoy online game by not only using PC131, but also using the mobile phone 132 with the same historic data,since the data at every storage point can be sent back to the game servocenter 11 so as to update the historic data previously stored in thedatabase 114. Hence, the online game can be enjoyed by both PC 131 andmobile phone 132, increasing the game amusement functions and networkingavailability.

Referring also to FIG. 3, a block chart of the second preferredembodiment of the present invention is shown. The main game software 115and/or secondary game software 116 stored in the game servo center 11shall be prepared into another attachable software (to be stored in CDor memory card), with a format compatible with PC 131 and mobile phone132. Then, the game software (attachable program) can be installed onto(plug-in) the corresponding PC 131 or mobile phone 132, so that thedevices for PC 131 and mobile phone 132 (e.g.: display unit andmicroprocessor) can process and display the game contents (pictures),whilst the control program or game parameters and historic records,required for other operations from the remote game servo center 11through the telecom network 12. Additionally, after the user terminal 13is linked to the game servo center 11 and personal identity is verified,the necessary parameters and record data are retrieved from the database114 and sent to the user's PC 131 or mobile phone 132 for incorporationinto the generated game contents, enabling PC 131 or mobile phone 132 torun the same online game. Either main game software 115 or secondarygame software 116 also comprises some game control programs or supports,so as to reduce the burden of signal transfer and the bandwidth used bythe user terminal 13.

Referring also to FIG. 4, a block chart of the third preferredembodiment of the present invention is shown. The secondary gamesoftware 116 in the first or second preferred embodiment is generated bythe additional data conversion function in the game server 112.Specifically, the data conversion function can convert the game contentsof main game software 115 retrieved from the database 114 into theformat compatible with the mobile phone 132, and combined with thecorresponding historic data (virtual secondary game software 116 isgenerated as indicated by the dashed frame in FIG. 4), the contents aresent to the mobile phone 132 through the communication server 113 forthe expected purposes and effects. Besides, when the user's mobile phone132 stores the game contents at every storage point back to the gameservo center 11, the signals can be converted into the format oforiginal main game software 115 with the help of data conversionfunction of the game server 112, and then stored into the address ofperson in the database 114 based on the personal identity for futureutilization by PC 131 or mobile phone 132.

As shown in the preferred embodiments of the online game system anddevice, a special keyboard 133 associated with the online game can beexternally connected to the mobile phone 132; as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5.The keyboard 133 comprises a triggering button 1331, and joystick 1332or steering wheel. The keyboard 133 can be disengaged from or combinedwith the mobile phone 132, thus improving the operational convenienceand amusement, and also increasing its practicability and economicvalue.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferredembodiment, it is to be understood that many other possiblemodifications and variations can be made without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

1. A system enabling PC-specific online games on mobile phone, whichcomprises at least a game servo center, telecom network and userterminal provided by the game service provider; of which: the game servocenter comprises at least: a user server, game server, communicationserver and database, which are used to support and store the datarequired for game; moreover, the game servo center comprises a main gamesoftware supporting PC format and a secondary game software supportingmobile phone format; both the game software are available with the samegame contents for the same personal identity; the game server may,depending on the user's requested personal identity and format selectionfunction, retrieve either main or secondary game software from thedatabase to generate the game contents, and then combined with thecorresponding historic data and parameters, and send data to the userterminal via the communication server; the game servo center alsoreceives game data sent from any user terminal, and then updates thehistoric data stored in the database; the telecom network comprises awired and wireless telecom network, which is applied to message transferbetween the game servo center and the user terminal; and at least awireless network is used for linking of the mobile phone in the userterminal; the user terminal comprises a PC and mobile phone of the sameperson registered with the game servo center, both of which can linkwith the game servo center through the telecom network, and convert theacquired game contents and historic data into the pictures on thescreen, while receiving the control program supported by the game servocenter to implement the online game using its keyboard or gamecontroller.
 2. The system defined in claim 1, wherein the main gamesoftware and/or secondary game software shall be prepared into anexternal software, with a format compatible with PC and mobile phonerespectively; then the game software can be installed onto thecorresponding PC or mobile phone, so that PC and mobile phone canprocess and display the game contents, whilst these control program,game parameters and historic records required to perform the game thatcan process by the remote game servo center through the network.
 3. Thesystem defined in claim 1, wherein the secondary game software isgenerated by the data conversion function in the game server;specifically, the data conversion function can convert the game contentsof main game software retrieved from the database into the formatcompatible with the mobile phone; and combined with the correspondinghistoric data, the combined contents are sent to the mobile phonethrough the communication server; the game contents stored back to thegame servo center by the users can be converted into the format oforiginal main game software and then stored into the database.
 4. Thesystem defined in claim 1, wherein the wireless telecom network isselected from at least one of GSM/GPRS/3G/4G/Wimax/W-CDMA and otherknown telecom protocols.
 5. The system defined in claim 4, wherein themobile phone is electrically connected with a keyboard speciallydesigned for the game.
 6. The system defined in claim 5, wherein thespecial keyboard can be disengaged from or combined with the mobilephone.